Car park lunches and solo gallops: how Michael Dods is controlling coronavirus

Trainer Michael Dods has revealed the extent of measures he is taking to stop the coronavirus outbreak spreading at his yard, which include checking the temperature of staff on arrival and lunches being eaten in their cars.

Social distancing has also impacted the training of Dods's two-year-olds as he prepares to educate them ahead of their racing careers.

"We're training all of the horses at half-level," said Dods, who sent out 44 winners last season. "We've got a lot of two-year-olds, big colts who you can't just rest – they've got to learn the game.

A coronavirus poster at Michael Dods's yard

"We can't educate the younger ones the way you'd want to, as you can't keep them upsides or bunched up. We can only canter them and keep the freshness off.

"We're keeping them at a level where they're not too fresh, as we wait to know when racing will be back on."

Dods has praised the efforts of his staff for adjusting to life under strict measures advised by the government.

He added: "For the staff it's about being careful, clean and taking precautions. The rules are still there even when they're on horseback, we're taking this very seriously.

"The staff have been very good. When they come in we have their temperature taken on their forehead. We bought them gloves they wear all the time, then they're sanitised and washed when they get home.

Thermometer: staff are checked on arrival to the yard

"We keep the staff apart all around the yard and when they're having their coffee breaks. For lunch some eat in their cars or sit outside when the weather is good.

"As for owners we're keeping them in touch as best we can. We don't want to make any knee-jerk reactions until we know what's going to happen. Once we get to the back-end of April we'll sit down and make decisions depending on when racing will restart.

"None of us have ever seen anything like this before, ever, but I think we're all doing a great job."

Of potential dangers, he added: "It's very important. If someone is ill and coughs on somewhere like a door handle or lead rope, it'll spread and we won't know how long it stays there. That's why sanitising and wearing gloves is so important."

Dods and his team are also keen to help out members of the neighbouring community, in Denton, County Durham.

He added: "There's a little village nearby so we've sent out some letters to everybody asking if they need anything, the staff can pick some stuff up to help out. We want to be able to help out."

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